Charcoal Introduction to Chiaroscuro

Italian : chiaro, bright, light (from Latin clārus, clear) + oscuro, dark (from Latin obscūrus).]

• Chiaroscuro- is a term describing the effects of light and shade in a work of art, particularly when they are strongly contrasting.

• Chiaroscuro was used in drawing, painting and printmaking.

• Leonardo Da Vinci was a pioneer of bold chiaroscuro, but the term is most usually associated with 17th century artists, particularly the Caravaggisti and Rembrandt.

(kē-är'ə-skʊr'ō) key are a suro

Da Vinci Study of Arms Hands

Terms to know:

• Value – difference in hue or neutral ranging from lightest to darkest

• Form- a 3D object measured by height, width and depth

• Space- refers to the emptiness or area between, around, above, below or with in objects.

– Negative space – the area of empty space surrounding shapes and forms (ground)

– Positive space- the area of shapes or forms in a 2 or 3 dimensional work of art

• Contrast- shows differences between the elements of art

• Proportion- concerned with the size

relationships of one part to another

• Still Life – painting or drawing of inanimate (no-moving) objects placed in an arranged setting

Ugo da Carpi, (Italy)Diogenes

Woodcut1527

Leonardo Da VinciLeonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

Florentine (Italian Renaissance)

Mona Lisa

1503-1506

Leonardo Da VinciGirl with a Dali Rose

Leonardo Da VinciLady with an Ermine in Cracow

Rembrandt Van Rijn 1606-1669

Dutch

Girl with a Broom

1461

Rembrandt

• Born in Leydon, Holland in 1606 to a well-to-do miler.

• Rembrandt was fascinated by old faces and completed 11 portraits of his father and several of his mother.

• Rembrandt’s inspiration came from the wide world of human beings that he found in his own backyard, which meant he never had to leave Amsterdam.

Rembrandt Van RijnSelf Portrait

• Rembrandt prospered with his

portraits for 8 years.

• Rembrandt was unique amongst

artist in that he created

approximately forty to fifty

self portrait paintings, about thirty-

two etchings, and seven drawings.

•Most artist only produce a handful of

self portraits in their lifetime.

Rembrandt Van RijnThe Night Watch

1642

After his wife died of tuberculosis he was left with his two sons and his work took a turn. He took a serious approach to his studies where he focused less on what the public wanted and more on his painting ideals.

Commissioned by the Militia Guard

Michelangelo Caravaggio 1571-1610 Italian

David with the Head of Goliath

1607

• Caravaggio believed that real life

was his subjects and never used a

model to draw from.

• Caravaggio’s technique of

chiaroscuro (light and shadow),

which was of the utmost importance,

led him on a path to become one of

the greatest painters.

Michelangelo Caravaggio1599-1600

The Calling of Saint Matthew

“The Calling of St. Matthew”, an altar piece for the Church of Saint Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, but was not excepted because St. Matthew was presented as a peasant with dirty feet. The use of real people seen through the eyes of Caravaggio was not what the church wanted the saint to be portrayed as. Therefore they did not except his painting. Caravaggio died at the age of 45. His portrayal of real people and real life was shown in his use of light and shadow and had a profound influence on Rembrandt and other painters for the next 300 years in Holland, Flanders, Spain and France.

Michelangelo Caravaggio1599-1600

Doubting Thomas

Charcoal Materials and Presentation• HB Charcoal pencil

• Tortillion• 90 lb charcoal paper• Tissues• Kneaded eraser• Masking tape• Drawing boards• Exacto knives• Sand paper block• Scrap paper• Vinyl eraser